Page 32 of The Alien's Unwanted Bride

“Go!” Dravek shouted, pushing Zora toward the windows. “I’ll hold him off!”

Zora hesitated, torn between escape and not wanting to leave Dravek. But the decision was taken from her as the general lunged, tackling Dravek to the ground.

The two men grappled, trading fierce blows. Dravek’s warrior training was evident in every calculated move, but the other fought with the raw ferocity of a cornered animal.

Zora’s heart raced as she watched the brutal fight unfold. She couldn’t leave Dravek, not like this. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for anything she could use to help.

A glint of metal caught her attention—a decorative sword mounted on the wall. Without hesitation, she sprinted toward it, her fingers closing around the hilt just as a mercenary vaulted over the fallen chandelier.

The man charged her, energy weapon raised. Zora’s martial arts training kicked in. She ducked under his wild swing, bringing the sword up in a swift arc. The blade connected with the mercenary’s weapon, slicing through its power core. The gun sputtered and died, and Zora followed through with a kick that sent the man sprawling.

“Dravek!” she shouted, tossing the sword toward him.

Dravek’s hand shot out, catching the blade midair. In one fluid motion, he brought it down, slashing across the enemy’s chest. The Drakanor commander howled in pain and fury, stumbling backward.

Seizing the moment, Dravek scrambled to Zora’s side. “Nice throw,” he panted, a hint of a smile playing on his lips despite the dire situation.

“I had a good teacher,” Zora replied, her eyes locked on the approaching mercenaries.

They stood back-to-back once more, Dravek with the sword and Zora with only her wits. The odds were still heavily against them, but Zora felt a surge of confidence. Together, they stood a chance.

“Any ideas for our grand escape?” Dravek asked, his voice low and tense.

Zora’s mind raced. The windows were their best bet, but they were several stories up. A fall from that height would be lethal. Unless...

“Cover me,” she said, already moving toward the windows.

Dravek nodded, positioning himself between Zora and the advancing mercenaries. He moved like a whirlwind, the sword flashing as he parried energy blasts and engaged anyone who got too close.

Zora reached the windows, her hands shaking slightly as she pulled out her last few seed pods. These were her most experimental creations yet, designed for extremely rapid growth and elasticity. She had never tested them in a situation like this, but they were out of options.

“Whatever you’re planning, do it fast!” Dravek called out, his voice strained as he fended off multiple attackers at once.

Zora took a deep breath, focusing her energy. She crushed the pods in her hand, feeling the seeds within pulsing with potential. With a silent prayer to whatever forces might be listening, she pressed her palm against the window and released the seeds.

For a heart-stopping moment, nothing happened. Then with a sound like cracking ice, vines erupted from her hand. They spread across the glass in a spiderweb pattern, growing thicker and more numerous by the second. The window groaned under the pressure, and then, with a thunderous crash, it shattered.

Cool night air rushed in, whipping Zora’s hair around her face. The vines continued to grow, stretching out into the darkness like grasping fingers.

“Dravek!” Zora shouted over the chaos. “We need to jump!”

Dravek’s eyes widened as he realized her plan. He fought his way to her, leaving a trail of groaning mercenaries in his wake.

“You’re insane,” he said, but there was admiration in his voice.

“Probably,” Zora agreed, grabbing his hand. “Ready?”

Before he could answer, a roar of fury cut through the din. The commander was on his feet, blood streaming from the gash across his chest. In his hand was a compact but deadly-looking energy cannon.

“You’re not going anywhere,” he snarled, the weapon powering up with an ominous whine.

Time seemed to slow. Zora saw his finger tightening on the trigger. She saw Dravek’s eyes widen in horror. And she knew with bone-deep certainty there was only one thing she could do.

With all her strength, Zora shoved Dravek toward the window. He stumbled, caught off guard, and fell backward into the tangle of vines. In the same instant, Zora dove to the side.

The energy blast missed Dravek by inches, the heat of it singeing Zora’s skin as it passed. But her relief was short-lived. A searing pain exploded in her side as a second shot caught her mid-dive.

Zora cried out, her vision blurring as agony radiated through her body. She was dimly aware of strong arms wrapping around her and of the sensation of falling.

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